Electrical switch-actuating mechanism.



w.1. BOHAN. ELECTRICAL SWITCHACTUATING. MECHANISM.

APPLICATION 'HLED AUG. 3. 1914.

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wILL'IAivi-a. BOHAN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA..'

ELECTRICAL SWITCH-ACTUATING- MECHANISM.

I Specification of Letters Patent. Patentdoct .19, 1915.

Application filed August 3, 1914. Serial No. 854,718.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, IVILLIAM J. BoHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Switch- Actuating Mechanism; and I do hereby'declare the following to be a full, clear, and

.exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertai'ns to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved electric switchactuating mechanism for railways, and to such ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

More specifically stated, the invention has for its object to provide a switch actuating mechanism which is operable from an engine cab, or other part of the train, and whereby the switch. may be thrown without stopping of the trainand without depend- 25 mg upon operation from a'tower or other locality than the train itself.

Also, the invention provides means whereby, when the train has passed the switch into I a position clearing the main line, the said 30 eliminates all pole changing mechanisms with their usual complications.

In applying the invention, the rails of the main line and side track or branch line are provided with the insulated track sections and source of electrical energy, and I further provide an associated motorcircuit including an electric switch called the circuit selector, and provide on the engine, or other suitable part of the train, atrolley or circuitcloser by means of which a certain properly disposed section of the said motor circuit, termed trolley lines,may be,elec' trically connected at will, while the train is in motion. i

VVith the above general statements in mind, the details of the preferred arrange ment of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and fol.- lowing detailed description.

In the drawings, like characters indicate like partsthroughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a. dlagrammatic plan view illustrating the system, including the switch actuating circuit and mechanism; Fig. 2 isa diagram matlc end elevation of the locomotive an a portion of the switch actuating circuit; Fig. 3 1s aplan view showing portionsof the main line and side track and switch actuating mechanism; Fig. 4 is a plan View with some parts broken away, showing a portion of the track, the switch actuated motor and connections between the latter and the connecting rod; Fig- 5 is a section taken approximately on the line m w? on Fig. 4, and showing also a casing for inclosing the motor and certain of the parts, and Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line m 'w 'on Fig. 4. The numerals land Zindicate the rails of the main line and side track, respectively,

and the numeral 3 indicates the switch rod .for throwing the movable rails of the, switch in the customary ways The switch rod 3, whlle connected to the ends of the split rails,

is electrically insulated therefrom. The

projecting end of the switch rod 3, in the construction illustrated, is connected by arod 4L to a lever 5 intermediately pivoted to a suitable fixed bearing 6, with its short,

end connected by an eccentric rod 7 to an eccentrlc 8, which, as shown, is on the hub of :a large .worm gear 9 Journaled on a heavy .stud 10 of a fixed bearing plate 11. The

eccentric 8 is, of course, the well known equivalent of a crank. Such eccentric or crank, in some arrangements, might be connected to the switch rod 3 direct, but the in termediate motion multiplying lever 5 is preferred because it reduces the required throw of the'said eccentric or crank.

The worm gear '8 is engaged by a worm- 12'of a shaft 13 mounted in suitable fixed bearings. 14 and provided at one end, as

shown, with a spur gear 15, which, in turn, meshes-with a spur pinion 16 on the armature shaft of an electric switch operating motor 17. As shown, the motor 17 and certain other of the switch operating connections-are inclosed in a'fixed casing 18, and

the armature shaft of the motor, at one end,

projects through this casing and terminates in an angular shank 17,

. operated crank may be attached to operate the switch'by hand, in: case there should be 7 thereof.

' "The numeral27 indicates a failure in the, operationof the electric switch actuating mechanism.

' vFor controlling'themotor, I provide an electric circuit, selector'ofnovel construe tion, and which, as shown, comprises a continuous contact ring 19 and. a sectional diametrically divided contact ring 20. Both of these contact'rings are suitably fixed 1m- Inediately below the'worm 9, and the said worm gear carries a contact brush 21 that runs uponboth of the said contact rings 19 and 20. The contact brush 21 isfof sufficient. width to span the gap between the endsof the sections of the divided contact ring 20.

The main line rails are divided :and insulated at 22, 23 and 23 and the side track rails are divided and insulated at 24:.

The. numeral 25-, indicates a battery or other source of electrical energywhich is connected across the main line rails, close to the track insulations 22 on the switch side The numeral 26' indicates a magnet which is electrically connected across the side track rails close to the insulations 24 on the switch side thereof. The'main line rails are elec- "trically. connected with the branch line rails,

asindicatedgat l -and 1 r trolley wiresor rails which runparallel to the main line rails from points in the vicinity of the track. insulations 22, a prescribed distance toward the switch. One of these'trolley wires 27.

connected, leadx28, to one side of the motor 17 and to a contact lever 29 that is subject to the magnet 26. The other trolley wire 27 is connected by. a lead '30. to one of. the sections of the, divided contact ring 20.

I The other 'section'of the said dividedcontact is engaged when, andonly when, the magnet 1 ring 20 connected by a lead 31 to a fixed Contact 32; with which the contact lever '29 26 is energized. The continuous contactring jl9 is',. connectedcby a lead 33 tothe motor 17,

an'd,;as" shown, a battery orother source of electricalenergy .34, is interposed in the said lines 27.

f -r h g n! b isaia amma cally indicated as anentirety, by the numeral 7 v 35, andthe trolley carried thereby, which is preferably of 'the pantag'raph type, is di'agrammatically indicated as an entirety by;

to which a hand-J is concerned, but it should be of a form adapted to be 'projjected-atwill, soas to engage the-two trolley lines 27 and close the circuit between the'same, while the engine the numeral Thi's'trolley may take vari- I ousdifi'erent formssofar as this invention or train'is injmotion, and during a period covering a suflicientxtime .to operate the switch.

Operation: The diagrammatic view in Fig.

1 shows the normal condition of the switch actuating ,mechanism which time, of course, theswitch is set for the main line operation. At this time, the circuit from the battery 25 is closed. through the magnet 26 and contact switch 29 is held against the contact '32. The lead wire. 31 from the said contact 32 is connected to that section'of the divided contact ring 20 which is then electrically disconnected from the niotor 17 and battery 34:, for the reason that the movable contact brush: 21 is then engagedwith the opposite section ofthe said divided contact ring 20 and "also, of course, with the fixed contact ring 19. Hence, at this time, the circuit from. the latter noted section'of the said ring 20, through the motor 17 and battery 34, is opened only between the trolley lines 27. Hence, the-system is now in such condi tion that when the locomotive moves on the [mainline tron right' toward the left, in respect to vFig. 1, toward the switch and past the track insulations 22, the following opera,-

tions will take place, to,-wit: If' the trolley 36 be projected into contact with the trolley lines 27, the circuit through motor 17 will be closed as follows: From motor 17 through wire 28, trolley wires 27 and trolley 36, to wire 30,1ower section of contact ring 20 brush 21, contact ring 19and wire 33-and battery 34,;back to said motor. This; of course, starts the motor 17 into action and the motorbeing started into action will, throughlthe eccentric Sand other mechanical connections described, move the switch from its normal vpositiomshown 'inFig. 1, into its sidetrack position shown in Fig. 3. Otherwise stated, half rotation ofthe said eccen trio 8 willaccomplish the above result and at the completion or this half rotationof the l said eccentric, the brush 21 moving in the loo direction otthe arrow marked on Fig. 1, will p as'sflffiiorn the-lower ringsection 20 with is engaged in Fig. 1, intoengaget the upper ,ringsection 20, as

:shown b dotted linesin Fig. 1. When'this half rotation of the said crank completed, the motor is-sjtoppe'd for the following rea- --sons';.Th.e locomotive immediatelyin passing toward the switch, beyond the track contact 22, shortcirc'uitsbattery 25 and thereby deenergizes themag'net 26and causes the contact'l'ever29 todrop out of engagement with the contact 32, so" that when the contact brush 21 is moved into engagement with they upper section of the contact ring 20, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the battery circuit to the motor 17 is not closed. When the brush 21, however, is left in the dotted line position, Fig. 1, it stands in such position that when the rear end of the train passes onto the side track, beyond the track to move until it has again returned to con-- tact 21 and the full line position shown in Fig. l, and thereby re'e'stablishes normal main line connections, with the switch again restored to normal: position, or in position to render the main line operative.

This improved switch actuating mechanism materially reduces the time factor required in taking sidings, decreases the fuel consideration which would, with ordinary switch mechanism, be required in starting and stopping a train at sidings, and further? more, materially reduces breaking in two of trains and the wear and tear of brake apparatus, draft rigging, and other parts of the equipment.

The switch mechanism in the drawings is shown as arrangedonly for automatic control in running the-train from the main line onto'a siding or switch track, but it is, of course, obvious, that it might be also reversely arranged to automatically control the movement of trains from a siding onto a mainline.

l/Vhat I claim is: 1. An electric switch actuating mechanism comprising a to andfro switch throwing device, a motor foroperating said switch throwing device, and a motor controlling circuit including terminal'tro'lley lines, both independent of the-rails.

2. An electrical switch actuating .mechanism comprising a to and fro switch throwing device, a continuousdirection motor for operating said switch'throwing device, and electric motor actuating connections and cotiperating devices arranged to close the motor circuit on the. approach side of the switch and cause the 'said motor to move the switch throwing device in one direction, and arranged to a-utomatlcally close said motor circuit on the other side of'said switch and cause said motor to again operate in the same direction and impart the reverse switch operating movement to said switch throwing device.

3. The combination with the rails of a main line, branch line and cooperating switch arranged in an insulated track section and connected to a source of electrical energy, of a to and fro switch throwing device, a continuous direction motor for operating, said switch throwing device,, and

1 electric circuit connections including. said motor and a source of electrical energy, and comprising terminal trolley lines'and a circuit selector.

4. The combination with the rails of a main line, branch line and cooperating switch arranged in an insulated track section and connected to a source of electrical energy, of a to and fro switch throwing device, a continuous direction motor .for operating said switch throwing device, electric circuit connections including said motor, a source of electrical energy, terminal trolley lines, a circuit closer, a magnet normally holding said-circuit closer in a-circuit closing position and itself connected across the branch line rails, and a source of electrical energy connected acrossthe main line rails.

5. The combination with the rails of a main line, branch line and cooperating switch arranged in an insulated track section, of a source of electrical energy connected across the approach ends of the insulated section of the main line, a magnet connected 1 across the branch line rails of said insulated section, a to and fro switch throwing device, a continuous direction motor for operating said switch throwing device, a circuit selector including continuous and sectional contacts and a cooperating brush, which brush receives movement from said motor, terminal trolley lines extended a limited dis- .tance along the track rails, a source of electrical energy connected to the continuous contact of said circuit selector and to one side of'said motor, a lead connecting one of the said trolley lines to the other side of said motor and to one of the contact sections of said circuit selector, a circuit closer'in the latter noted lead between said motor and sectional contact, which circuit closer isnormally held closed by said'magnet, and another lead connecting the other trolley line to the other sectional contact of said circuit selector.

6. The combination with the rails of a main line, branch line and cooperating switch, arranged in an'insulated track section and connected to a source .of electrical energy, of'a to and fro switch throwing device, a motor for operating said switch throwing device, and electric circuit conswitch arranged in an insulated track sec- .tion connected to a source of electrical energy, of a to and fro switch throwing device, a motor for operatingsaid switchthrowing device, electric circuit connections connected across the branch linerails.

8. The combination with the rails of a main line, branch line and cooperating switch,arranged in an insulated track section of a to and fro switch: throwing device, a continuous direction motor for oper-' atingsaid switch throwing device,,electric circuit connection including said motor, a

' source of electrical energy and terminal branch line rails, a source of electrical BII-" ergy connected across the main line rails,

proaching 'a'switch; l l e 9. Thecombinationwith the rails ,of .a

trolley lines extended along to the main line rails,'a magnet normally holding said circuit closed, and itself connected across the and a circuitcloser engageable with said terminal trolley lines to close the circuit on apmain line and branch line and a track switch main line, branch line and cooperating switch, arranged in an insulated track sectionand connected to a source of electrical h energy, o'fa to 'andffro" switch throwing device; a motor for operating switch throwing device, {an electric@circuit selector connected to and controlling saidxmotor, separated terminal trolley lines extended r along the'main line approachtothe. switch, I one of said trolley lines being connected'to.

one side 'ofsaid circuit selector, and the other being connectedto' the other side of said circuit selector, through a circuit. closer,- and being also'connected to said motor, and,

a magnet connected across the switch line rails "and normally holding saidcircuit closer in'a circuit closing position. 10, The combination with the rails of -a main (line, branch line and cooperating swi-tcharranged in an insulated track. sec- "tion and'c onnected to a source of electrical -energy',' o'fa to and: fro?- switch throwing deyice, a motor for operating saidswitch'; :throwing device, an electric circuit selector connectedto and controlling said motor,

separatedterminal trolley lines extended along the: main line approachtoithe' switch, one of-said trolley linesbeing connected to one side of said circuit selector, and the other being connected to the other side of said circuitselector,-through a circuit closer, and being also connected to said motor, and a magnet connected across the switchline rails and normally holding said circuit closer in a circuitclosing pos1t1on,'the said'c rcult selector comprising vaf continuous and a sectional contact 'rmg and a "motor dr ven .contact engageable therewith.

'11.' The combination with therailsi'of a* J' main line, 'abranch line and coilperating switch in the other direction, haspassed said switch. Q 14, The combination with the rails of a main line and branch line and cocperating switch, of electrically actuated means independent of the track rails, including a source switch; arranged in an insulated track sec tinuous and a-sectional contact ring and a motor-driven contact cooperating therewith, of terminal trolley lines extending, along the mainline switch approach, oneof the said trolley lines-being connected to one side of' the sectional selector ring, and the other trolley line being connected to saidmotor and being also connected .to the other side of the sectional ring of said selector, through a 'circuit closer,'a magnet connected :across the side track rails and normally holding said circuit makenclose'd, and a source of electrical energy connected across the main line rails. v

12.. The combination with therails' of a cooperating'therewith, all arranged in an 1nsulated track section and connected to a source of electrical energy, of an electric "motor for operating sa d-track switch, and electric c1rcu1t 'connec'tionsior 'controlllng' said motor, including a source of electrical energy, a circuit selector, terminal trolley lines connected to said source-of electrical energy, through said circuit selector, an electric switch connected to'sai'd' source of electrical energy, through said circuit selector,

and a magnet connected across the branch line and normallyholding said electric switch in a closed position;

- 13. The combination "w th the rails of a main line andbranch line and a cooperating switch, of electrically actuated means independent of said track rails, for operating said switch in one direction, onapproach v ofa train, and electrically actuated'means,

including said rails and certain of the parts of said first noted means, vfor operating said afterthe train of: electrical energy, a motor, and a circuit selector operative tomove the switch in onedirectionon approach of a train,.and electrlcally actuated means including sa d motor, sa d c rcuit selector,fand track rails, for op- .erati-ng said switch in the otherdirection,

after the train'has passed said switch.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence-of two. Witnesses f VVILLIAM- J. BOHANI Witnesses: i GHARLESH. OscooD,-. I 'GEoneE F. Enmco'r'r; 

